What started as an idea, became a voice.

The voice became a community.

The community became a movement.

A movement over half a million strong every month and growing.

When we launched our company one year ago this month (cue the balloons and champagne...lots of champagne), we knew we wanted to develop projects that changed the landscape of media.

But, we were just two women.  Two moms. We lived on different coasts.  We stayed up until 3am working via Skype from home offices full of baby dolls and unfolded laundry and champagne. (What?  We like to celebrate.)

And while we were already bloggers making our livings through social media, the uncertainty of what we were about to embark on was frightening.  Would people take a chance on us?  Could we handle the hustle?  Would this be a success?

We had so many ideas, and we pitched every one of them.

We learned two things hard and fast.  First, nobody will love your idea as much as you.  Second, if there was a secret to becoming successful, absolutely no one was sharing it.

Failing is way harder than they made it look like on MTV's Made.

After our 500th thanks for the inquiry, due to the sheer volcanic volume of emails we get on a daily basis, we may not have time to turn you down in a more personal matter no offense oh look here's a picture of a monkey hugging a kitty form email, we decided we were going to stop putting the success of our business on the shoulders of others.

So, we did.

We built our business on our own backs, on our own terms, following something we are incredibly passionate about.

We've thrown events across the country and launched some amazing online ventures, including Curvy Girl Guide, with two others launching in the next few months.

We made our own dream job.

Did we think a year ago that today we'd be sitting at the helm of a successful women's magazine and media company, drinking champagne and eating cake, one more step closer to being the person our children want to be when they grow up?

No.

But, we never gave up or compromised our goals, and here were are.  Did I mention the champagne?

We've partnered with Intuit in their pursuit to award a small business a $25,000 grant as part of their Love a Local Business competition, of which we are in the running for (wink wink, nudge nudge click here to vote)!

Everybody has a dream job, what's yours?  Do you dream of owning your own business, but need some advice?  Come talk to us!

Everybody has a dream job, what's yours  Do you dream of owning your own business, but need some advice?  Come talk to us!

(Spoiler Alert: By joining us in the discussion you will be entered to win an iPad 2!)

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Intuit’s Love A Local Business competition. The opinions and text are all mine. Contest runs July 6 to August 9, 2011. A random winner will be announced by August 11, 2011. Official Contest Rules